Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

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RE: Stagecoach Manchester

(27/02/2013 21:13)SF07 Wrote:  Stagecoach have announced on their website that the Bluebird takeover will take place on Sunday.

Buses will be re-painted over the coming months with some current Stagecoach buses being used in addition to the current Bluebird fleet (similar to now). Bluebird's ticket range will still be available on current Bluebird services for the time being, while Stagecoach's day tickets & weekly Megarider and Easyrider tickets will also be valid. Stagecoach Smartcard will be available once new ticket machines are installed.

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/manchesterbluebird.aspx

Yes it looks like all systems go for Sunday. There were a few Bluebird buses in Stockport tonight, scattered around. One was parked up near the bus station with a couple of drivers admiring it, standing around chatting. I don't know if that was a familiarisation exercise.
Seems Stagecoach will have to use a few spare buses on the routes for a while, whilst the others are being painted, and presumably over time some of the current fleet will be scrapped, though I do believe there's not that many that are too old for use.